OpenAI blocks ChatGPT accounts linked to Russian propagandists
OpenAI has blocked ChatGPT accounts linked to the Russian propaganda network Rybar ["fisherman" in Russian – ed.] as part of Operation Fish Food. The network used ChatGPT to generate posts and comments for publication on social media on Rybar-branded accounts, as well as apparently unrelated accounts that were presented as users from different parts of the world. They also planned psyops and created videos using Sora.
Source: Dev.ua, citing the OpenAI report
Quote: "We banned a cluster of ChatGPT accounts that were linked to the Russian-origin 'Rybar' network. This cluster translated and generated content that was posted on 'Rybar' social media accounts, but it also appears to have served as a content farm for a wider network of accounts on X and Telegram that bore no overt relationship to the 'Rybar' group. On some occasions, the threat actor used ChatGPT to generate batches of short social media comments, and these were then posted by accounts on X and Telegram that appeared to originate from different parts of the world."
Details: The report states that the blocked users prompted in Russian but generated content in various languages, including Spanish and English. The Sora videos were used as promotional clips for Rybar. The propaganda materials "praised Russia and its allies (such as Belarus), criticised Ukraine and accused Western countries of foreign interference".
One of the blocked accounts asked the model to create psyop plans aimed at interfering in political life and elections in Africa. The data indicates that the propagandists were building a network of agents and organising large-scale events and protests. Their campaigns targeted the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Burundi and Madagascar.
The budget for the largest propaganda operation in Africa was US$600,000. The report notes that two years ago, the United States offered a reward of up to US$10 million for information regarding the Rybar project.
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